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mandylovestoread's review against another edition
4.0
Matt Royal... Lawyer turned beach bum turns back to lawyer when his girlfriends aunt is accused of murder. A legal thriller that twists and turns and makes for a great read. This book is the latest in a series that I have not previously read but will be looking out for more. It reads well as a stand alone boik.
Thanks to Oceanview Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to read via Netgalley in return for an honest review
Thanks to Oceanview Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to read via Netgalley in return for an honest review
scott_a_miller's review against another edition
4.0
This was a little different Matt Royal Mystery. Purely a courtroom drama. I enjoyed it a lot. Looking forward to the next one.
bookdarling1987's review
5.0
Vindication (A Matt Royal Mystery) by H. Terrell Griffin Published January 2nd 2018 by Oceanview Publishing was a very interesting read.
Former attorney Matt Royal is enjoying his “retirement” on Longboat Key when he receives a telephone call from his girlfriend Jennifer Diane Duncan who is a detective and takes a few weeks off to help Matt resolve Aunt Esther’s situation. Nothing takes you out of retirement quicker then the person you love or there family needing help. Her aunt Esther Higgins has been arrested for the murder of writer Olivia Lathom. That is the first book by this author that I have read and it was a nice quick read. The prologue confused me because I was like what does a Miss Georgia pageant have to do with Aunt Esther’s book? This book is well written and brilliantly paced, it is a murder mystery until the last page. All the characters are likeable and the descriptions make me want to visit Florida more often. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future. I give it 4 Royal Stars. Thank you Negalley, Oceanview and H Terrell Griffin for my arc of this book I enjoyed it.
Former attorney Matt Royal is enjoying his “retirement” on Longboat Key when he receives a telephone call from his girlfriend Jennifer Diane Duncan who is a detective and takes a few weeks off to help Matt resolve Aunt Esther’s situation. Nothing takes you out of retirement quicker then the person you love or there family needing help. Her aunt Esther Higgins has been arrested for the murder of writer Olivia Lathom. That is the first book by this author that I have read and it was a nice quick read. The prologue confused me because I was like what does a Miss Georgia pageant have to do with Aunt Esther’s book? This book is well written and brilliantly paced, it is a murder mystery until the last page. All the characters are likeable and the descriptions make me want to visit Florida more often. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future. I give it 4 Royal Stars. Thank you Negalley, Oceanview and H Terrell Griffin for my arc of this book I enjoyed it.
3no7's review against another edition
5.0
“Vindication” is book eleven in H. Terrell Griffin’s Matt Royal Mystery series. It is not necessary to have read any of the previous books to enjoy this one. This is the first book I have read in the series, and I did not realize there was a series until I finished the book and wanted to read more.
A woman’s body is face down on the concrete dance floor of Paddock Square. So it begins, and it does not end without many questions but few answers.
Curiously, the first two chapters seem to be almost accidently slipped in from another book, but do not skip them. Chapter three opens with “retired” lawyer Matt Royal’s first person narrative as he relaxes in Longboat Key, Florida.
In a story so relatable, that Griffin must have been spying on people I know, a member of a mystery book club has been arrested for murder. The club meets in a local bookstore, and the victim is an author visiting for a book signing. The accused suspect happens to be the aunt of Matt Royal’s long-time girlfriend and local police detective J.D. Duncan, so Royal is asked to “come out of retirement” and take the case. Along the way, Jock Algren, Matt’s friend and one of the best agents in America’s Intelligence community, who is visiting, unwinding, and relaxing in Longboat Key is asked to help out.
The story unfolds with Matt’s narrative alternating with the third person story line. Matt’s first person sections are filled with musing about the progress of the case and compelling insight into legal procedure and why he is doing what he is doing. The third person sections provide needed background and views of events from other perspectives. The pace is steady, and the alternating points of view give depth and add interest.
The characters drive this story, and these characters are intense, realistic, and hilarious. When Aunt Esther Higgins, retired schoolteacher, faces taking a guilty plea bargain or spending months in jail awaiting trial, she reassures Matt that she will be fine because:
“Years ago the school system that I worked for got in a jam and had to assign me to an all-boys junior high school to teach English …..You tell that prosecutor that if I could handle that for nine months, I can damn sure handle a jail cell for six months. No deals.”
Matt laments that the legal “process is mentally exhausting and not nearly as much fun as fishing.” He does relish the Florida weather, especially on “one of those days when everybody calls their relatives in the still chilly north to rag them a little about the gorgeous days that a Florida spring produces.” Moreover, where else would a suspect be called “a pusillanimous puissant” or a traffic-congested road labeled “Malfunction Junction”?
Despite the hilarity, a lot of investigation goes on, and dead-ends and false leads abound. Many secrets from the past rear their ugly heads but do not seem to lead anywhere. In true Perry Mason style, everything finally falls into place during the trial in unexpected ways and a peculiar justice finally prevails
I received a copy of “Vindication” from Oceanview Publishing, H. Terrell Griffin and NetGalley. This is an entertaining book to read, but be careful; you might just laugh right out loud as you read.
A woman’s body is face down on the concrete dance floor of Paddock Square. So it begins, and it does not end without many questions but few answers.
Curiously, the first two chapters seem to be almost accidently slipped in from another book, but do not skip them. Chapter three opens with “retired” lawyer Matt Royal’s first person narrative as he relaxes in Longboat Key, Florida.
In a story so relatable, that Griffin must have been spying on people I know, a member of a mystery book club has been arrested for murder. The club meets in a local bookstore, and the victim is an author visiting for a book signing. The accused suspect happens to be the aunt of Matt Royal’s long-time girlfriend and local police detective J.D. Duncan, so Royal is asked to “come out of retirement” and take the case. Along the way, Jock Algren, Matt’s friend and one of the best agents in America’s Intelligence community, who is visiting, unwinding, and relaxing in Longboat Key is asked to help out.
The story unfolds with Matt’s narrative alternating with the third person story line. Matt’s first person sections are filled with musing about the progress of the case and compelling insight into legal procedure and why he is doing what he is doing. The third person sections provide needed background and views of events from other perspectives. The pace is steady, and the alternating points of view give depth and add interest.
The characters drive this story, and these characters are intense, realistic, and hilarious. When Aunt Esther Higgins, retired schoolteacher, faces taking a guilty plea bargain or spending months in jail awaiting trial, she reassures Matt that she will be fine because:
“Years ago the school system that I worked for got in a jam and had to assign me to an all-boys junior high school to teach English …..You tell that prosecutor that if I could handle that for nine months, I can damn sure handle a jail cell for six months. No deals.”
Matt laments that the legal “process is mentally exhausting and not nearly as much fun as fishing.” He does relish the Florida weather, especially on “one of those days when everybody calls their relatives in the still chilly north to rag them a little about the gorgeous days that a Florida spring produces.” Moreover, where else would a suspect be called “a pusillanimous puissant” or a traffic-congested road labeled “Malfunction Junction”?
Despite the hilarity, a lot of investigation goes on, and dead-ends and false leads abound. Many secrets from the past rear their ugly heads but do not seem to lead anywhere. In true Perry Mason style, everything finally falls into place during the trial in unexpected ways and a peculiar justice finally prevails
I received a copy of “Vindication” from Oceanview Publishing, H. Terrell Griffin and NetGalley. This is an entertaining book to read, but be careful; you might just laugh right out loud as you read.
pgchuis's review
4.0
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
Matt, a former lawyer, is persuaded out of retirement to defend his girlfriend's aunt Esther on a murder charge. I gather that this is part of a series where Matt's services are regularly required. In this case Esther is accused of shooting a woman who she claims stole the manuscript of her novel, but whom she also claims never to have even met.
After a rather slow opening few chapters set in the past and focussing on a Miss Georgia pageant, things picked up once the focus switched to Matt and his girlfriend JD. There was a large chunk in the first person in Matt's voice, and then a sudden switch to the third person from JD's perspective, which was jarring. After that the narrative switched regularly between Matt, JD and Josh, with his useful government contacts. I liked Matt and his humorous, easy relationships with his friends. The novel was well-plotted, with the pageant story eventually being drawn into the main narrative, although only eventually - it kept me guessing. The last few chapters described the trial, which I always enjoy reading - these reminded me of a Perry Mason novel, although we did have more of an idea of what was going to happen. There were a few very heartfelt and moving sections about veterans and serving armed forces personnel, which somehow fitted with the otherwise light tone.
My only complaints would be a certain amount of repetition - we heard about the time of the year after the snowbirds had gone home at least three times - and an inability on the part of the editor to distinguish between principal and principle.
Recommended.
Matt, a former lawyer, is persuaded out of retirement to defend his girlfriend's aunt Esther on a murder charge. I gather that this is part of a series where Matt's services are regularly required. In this case Esther is accused of shooting a woman who she claims stole the manuscript of her novel, but whom she also claims never to have even met.
After a rather slow opening few chapters set in the past and focussing on a Miss Georgia pageant, things picked up once the focus switched to Matt and his girlfriend JD. There was a large chunk in the first person in Matt's voice, and then a sudden switch to the third person from JD's perspective, which was jarring. After that the narrative switched regularly between Matt, JD and Josh, with his useful government contacts. I liked Matt and his humorous, easy relationships with his friends. The novel was well-plotted, with the pageant story eventually being drawn into the main narrative, although only eventually - it kept me guessing. The last few chapters described the trial, which I always enjoy reading - these reminded me of a Perry Mason novel, although we did have more of an idea of what was going to happen. There were a few very heartfelt and moving sections about veterans and serving armed forces personnel, which somehow fitted with the otherwise light tone.
My only complaints would be a certain amount of repetition - we heard about the time of the year after the snowbirds had gone home at least three times - and an inability on the part of the editor to distinguish between principal and principle.
Recommended.
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